Before the Act of Union 1707, the barons of the shire of Bute elected commissioners to represent them in the unicameral Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of Estates. After 1708, Buteshire and Caithness alternated in returning one member the House of Commons of Great Britain and later to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
List of shire commissioners
1644: Sir Robert Montgomery of SkelmorlieG. E. C., The Complete Baronetage, vol. II (1902) p. 336. 1644–45: Sir James Stewart of Kirktoun, sheriff 1648: Laird of Kilchattane (Stewart) 1648: Laird of Kames (Bannatyne) 1651: Laird of Askog (Stewart) 1661–63: Sir James Stewart of KirktounComplete Baronetage, vol. II,p. 322. 1665 (convention) 1667 (convention) 1669–70: Sir Dugald Stewart of Bute 1669–74, 1678 (convention) 1681–82: Ninian Bannantyne of Kames 1685–86: John Boyle of Kelburn 1689 (convention) 1689–93, 1689–98: David Boyle, later the 1st Earl of Glasgow 1693–1702: William Stewart of Ambrismore 1702–03: Sir James Stewart (or Stuart) of Bute, sheriff (ennobled 1703) Complete Baronetage, vol. II, pp. 322–323. 1702–07: Robert Stewart of TillicoultryComplete Baronetage, vol. IV (1904) p. 447. 1704–07: John Steuart of Kinwhinlick
References
See also List of constituencies in the Parliament of Scotland at the time of the Union